LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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||ome (Iiollccjc .Scries. 






Number 






Twenty- One. 



Wl. HICKLING PRESCOTT. 



DANIEL WISE, D.D. 



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NEW YORK: 
PHILLIPS & HUNT 

CINCINNATI : 

WALDEN & STOWE 

1883. 



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The "Home College Series" will contaiu one hundred short papers on 
a wide range of subjects — biographical, historical, scientific, literary, domes- 
tic, political, and religious. Indeed, the religious tone will characterize all 
of them. They are written for every body — for all whose leisure is limiter', 
but who desire to use the minutes for tlie enrichment of life. 

These papers contain seeds from the best gardens in all tlie world of 
human knowledge, -and if dropped wisel\' into good soil, will bring forth 
harvests of beauty and value. 

Tliey are for the young— especially for young people (and older people, 
too) who are out of the schools, who are full of "business" and "cares," 
who are in danger of reading nothing, or of reading a sensatioual literature 
that is worse tlian nothing. 

One of these pupers a week read over and over, thought and talked about 
at "odd times," will give in one year a vast fund of information, an intel- 
lectual quickening, worth even more than the mere knowledge? acquired, a 
taste for solid read ng, many hours of simple and wholesome pleasure, and 
ability to talk intelligently and helpfully to one's friends. 

Pastors may organize " Home College " classes, or " Lyceum Reading 
Unions," or "Chautauqua Literary and Scientific ('ircles," and liclp tlie 
young people to read and think and talk and live to worthier purpose. 

A young man nuiy have liis own little "college" all by liimselC, read ("his 
Srries of tracts one after the other, (there will soon be one huidred of them 
ready,) examine himself on them by the " Thought-Outline to Help the Mem- 
ii'V," and thus gaiu knowledge, and, what is better, a kivt of knowledge. 

And wliat a young man may do in tiiis respect, a young woman, and boih 

old men and old women, may do. 

J. H. Vincent. 

New York, Jun., 1SS8. 



Copyriglit, 1S83, by PiULLU-s tt Hun r, Nuw Vurk. 



Siomc (iToKcjt Sfvits. lUimbft lirtoMitn-Dnc. 



WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 



William Hickling Prescott, the charming historian of 
Mexico, Peru, etc., Avas born in Salem, Mass., on the 4th 
of May, 1790. His father was an eminent lawyer, descended 
from a line of hardy yeoman of good Puritan blood. His 
mother was the daughter of a highly resjjected Boston 
merchant. Both parents were persons of superior character. 
Their home was the abode of that refinement which comes 
from intellectual culture, and of that domestic bliss Avhich 
is the effluence of mutual marital affection, paternal dignity 
and gentleness, maternal energy, cheerfulness, and love, 
" controlled by good sense and by religious convictions." 

The child life of young Prescott Avas largely and wisely 
influenced by his good mother, and by Miss Mehitabel Hig- 
ginson, the school-mother, as she loved to call herself, of a 
flock of little children placed under her care by the respect- 
al)le peojile of Salem. He remained in her school until he 
was nearly seven years old, and then was sent to an estab- 
lishment taught by " Master Knapp." After spending five 
years at this gentleman's school, he went with his parents to 
their new^ home in Boston. In that city he became a pupil 
of the Rev. Dr. Gardiner, rector of Trinity Church. This 
gentleman was a very superior classical scholar, and an in- 
structor of exceptional ability and tact. Under his care he 
prepared for college, and in 1811, when he was only fifteen 
years old, he was admitted, after a creditable examination, 
to the sophomore class in Harvard University. 

There was nothing in young Prescott's school life or in 
his intellectual development during boyhood that indicated 
the future historian. While in Mr. Knapp's school, though 
regarded as a " bright, merry boy, with an inquisitive mind, 



WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 



quick perceptions, and a ready, retentive memory," he did 
not rank Avith the best scholars. He might have stood among 
the first if he had wished to do so. It was not for lack of 
ability, but for lack of purpose, that he failed. He was too 
fond of play and of books which addressed the imagina- 
tion to give his mind to close, earnest study. He showed 
the same dispositions while under Dr. Gardiner's care. His 
prescribed lessons he prepared with apparent ease, but his 
teacher found it very difficult, if not impossible, to induce 
him to give his attention to lessons not indispensable for his 
admission to the university. Plis passion for the romances 
of that day still fascinated him, and his reading was not for 
improvement, but for idle, dreamy amusement. 

It was his good fortune to be reared by parents who, while 
affording free scope for the gayety of his nature, were 
sufficiently wise to apply the restraints of discipline when- 
ever their boy's merriment spurred him into impropriety. 
At such times the calm rebukes of his dignified father and 
the mild expostulations of his affectionate mother were 
effectual in preventing a repetition of his offenses. His con- 
science was quick to respond to their censures. One even- 
ing, after one of his boyish peccadilloes, his mother bade 
him read aloud one of Dr. Channing's sermons to children. 
He had not read more than a few pages when, with tears in 
his eyes and a voice choking with emotion, he looked into 
his mother's face and said : 

" Mother, if I am ever a bad boy again, wont you set me 
to reading that sermon ? " 

Two facts in his boy life gave slight indications of his 
subsequently developed power as a writer of history. He 
took inexhaustible delight in games of battles and knightly 
conflicts described in his school-books and in romances; these 
he and his companions fought over and over again, at first 
with mimic armies made of paper, and later in mock per- 
sonal encounters. He and his chosen school friend, William 



WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 



Gardiner, Avere also in the habit of improvising stories for 
mutual entertainment. Sueh employments are not charac- 
teristic of boys generally, and may, therefore, be regarded 
as incipient tendencies toward that bent of his mind to 
graphic descriptions and historical composition which after- 
ward made his name famous in the world of letters. 

The freedom from the constraints of home life, which ia 
given to a youth when he enters college, is often a severe 
test of his moral strength. With freedom is associated com- 
panionship which, particularly to one naturally gay and 
genial as was yoi;ng Prescott, are not seldom temptations 
to hitherto-unknown pleasures more or less vicious. That 
he yielded somewhat to the fascinations of his new life Mr. 
Ticknor, his biographer, reluctantly confesses when he says 
that his standard of character " sometimes was not so high 
on the score of morals as it should have been." Precisely 
what this admission means is not clear; but it is known that 
he plunged into no excesses which involved him in censure 
for violating college rules. A strong will kept him within 
certain bounds, but that will, not being guided by the law 
of Christ, did not keep him from venturing into slipjiery 
places. He made many good resolutions, but, after resolv- 
ing and re-resolving, remained the same as before, and put 
some acts into his life which he subsequently reviewed with 
regret. 

What this moral weakness might have effected in his 
character cannot now be known, because of a singular mis- 
fortune which struck him, as with a flash of lightning, and 
changed the current of his being and life. It occurred as 
he was passing out of Common's Hall one day after dinner. 
Hearing a noise, caused by some frolicsome students be- 
hind him, he looked back to see what was going on. Instantly 
a piece of hard bread, thrown at random by a thoughtless 
lad, struck the disk of the left eye, which, so sudden was the 
coming of the missile, did not protect itself by instinctively 



WILLIAM K PRE8C0TT. 



closing its lid. Prescott fell as if shot. Though his mind re- 
mained clear, his body was completely prostrated. Sick at 
the stomach, with a feeble pulse, his face " pale and shrunken," 
he was borne by gentle arms to his father's house in Boston. 
There they placed him in bed, but he was too weak to sit uj). 
Medical aid was sought. But it could advise no treatment 
of the organ ; nothing but absolute repose, thatnatui*e might 
have opportunity to do what it could for the young sufferer's 
relief. The retina of his eye M'as paralyzed. No mark was 
visible, but its sight was practically lost. There was reason 
for hoping that he might be able to resume his college 
studies after a time, but none that he would ever recover 
the use of his injured eye. 

Prescott's nobility of nature showed itself in his remark- 
able forbearance to speak a word censuring the author of 
his suffering. He knew the hand which struck him, but, 
recognizing the lack of all intention to injure either himself 
or any one else, he bore his hurt in silence. In later years 
he did the man an important kindness. But, to the shame of 
the offender be it written, he was never known to express 
regret for the consequence of his idle but mischievous 
deed. 

Young Prescott's forced seclusion gave hira time for re- 
flection ; and when he was able to resume his college studies 
his character took on a more sober aspect. His sjjirits were 
as overflowing as before, but his ambitions were higher, his 
purposes stronger, his devotion to study more complete. In 
mathematics he could not excel, as he was forced to confess 
to the indulgent professor of that department; bnt in En- 
glish litei'ature and in classical studies he was so proficient 
that he was graduated with honor in 1814. 

After quitting the academic halls of Harvard he began 
the study of law in his father's office; not that lie loved the 
law, but because it was his father's wish. His own choice 
was literature, not law; and it was finally gratified through 



WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 



events little anticipated, and which transformed a large por- 
tion of his life into almost a living martyrdom. 

This new form of suffering came upon him in January, 
1815, in the form of acute rheumatism of the right eye, in- 
volving severe pain and deprivation of sight. From the eye 
it shifted to the limbs, sometimes alternating from one to 
the other. During sixteen weeks he was unable to walk a 
step. His life was now embittered by fierce pains, inability 
to read, and long confinement in a darkened room. These 
were very sore trials to an ambitious young man of other- 
wise bright prospects, as he stood on the threshold of active 
life, but he did not repine, did not even lose his natural 
gayety, but was invariably cheerful and genial. 

Change of climate being thought desirable, he sailed in 
the autumn of 1815 for St. Michael's, one of the Western Isl- 
ands, to visit his maternal grandfather. There he met with 
a warmth of affection which gave his sensitive nature un- 
bounded delight. The tropical wealth and beauty of the 
island added to his pleasures; when, alas for his hopes! the 
pain returned to his right eye and doomed him to the seclu- 
sion and inaction of a darkened room for three wearisome 
months. His unrepining, even cheerful, patience won the 
admiring affection of his friends. And when he left their 
hospitable home in April, 1816, for England, his venerable 
grandfather pressed him in his arms and, with many tears, 
exclaimed, " It never cost me more to part from any of my 
children ! " 

In London the most distinguished physicians could promise 
him no cure, but only alleviation of his disease. At times 
his eye was so far relieved as to permit him to look into a 
book, but only Avith a hopelessness which wrung tears from 
his eyes, and moved him to Avrite to his loved and loving 
friends at home, " When I look into a Greek or Latin book 
I experience much the same sensation one does who looks 
on the face of a dead friend." 



WILLIAM H. PBESCOTT. 



From London Prescott went to Fiance and Italy, and 
while ^still a sufferer from his infirmities he returned to his 
home in Boston in the summer of 1817. At first he lived a 
very retired life on aceount of his eyes. To relieve the 
tedium of such a life an old school-master and his sister 
often read to him by turns, many hours a day, while he sat 
in a corner of his room with his back to the light. 

It was now clear both to himself and to his friends that he 
could not become a lawyer. His infirmity as well as his 
tastes forbade him to think of becoming a merchant. What 
profession, then, could he choose ? was the question which 
now perplexed him. His affluent father was both able and 
willing to support him, but having a 2)raiseworthy desire to 
support himself, and to be of some use in society, he thought 
long and often of all the possibilities in his case. AVhile 
this problem was puzzling him, he ventured once more into 
society. His fine figure, gentle bearing, handsome features, 
and sunny smile made him a Avelcome visitor in the most 
aristocratic circles. There he met with a lady, named Miss 
Susan Amory, who so captivated him that in May, 1820, he 
made her his bride. It is enough to say of this marriage 
that, Avriting of it years after, he said, " Contrary to the 
assertion of La Bruyere, Avho somewhere says that the most 
fortunate husband finds reason to regret his condition at 
least once in twenty-four hours, I may truly say that I have 
found no such day in the quarter of a century that Provi- 
dence has spared us to each other." And so, says his 
biographer, "it continued to the last." 

Having thus wisely chosen a good wife, Prescott returned 
to the choice of a profession. Strangely enough, as it 
seemed, for one little better than blind, he finally determined 
to devote himself to literature. But the event })roved that 
he had properly estimated his own powers, both as to capa(,'ity 
and power of patient perseverance. 

The story of his prodigious preparatory labors, as given 



WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 



by Mr. George Ticknor, his admirable biographer, reads 
more like a romance than, as it is, a record of sober facts. 
Unable to read except now and then when his eye permitted 
brief use ; compelled to use the noctograph, an instrument 
ingeniously contrived to enable the blind to write; almost 
wholly dependent on a reader for his knowledge of books, 
one follows him Avith ever-increasing wonder through his 
manifold studies. Determined to lay his foundations deep 
and strong, he began with the study of the principles of 
grammar and composition. Next he went through the rich 
treasures of English literature, from Roger Ascham to the 
latest modern reviewer, at the same time keeping up his 
studies of the Latin classics. French and Italian then en- 
gaged his attention. German he failed to acquire ; but having 
his thoughts drawn by a mere accident to the Spanish he 
studied that, and became so deeply interested in its historical 
literature that, after much hesitation and frequent changes 
of purpose, he finally resolved, in 1826, that his maiden book 
should be a history of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. 

He then commenced his examinations of hundreds of 
Spanish books, and, though often hindered by returns of 
acute disease in his eye, persevered until his materials were 
digested and his numerous notes written. These preparations 
consumed three years and a half, before he wrote a page of 
history. In October, 1829, he began the work of composi- 
tion. He wrought upon it with indescribable patience more 
than seven years and six months. Another year was con- 
sumed in carrying it through the press, and in 1837 the 
product of all this toil was given to the world. It is no 
exaggeration to say that no other man ever produced such a 
history under siich peculiar disadvantages as those which 
hampered the author of the masterly and fascinating history 
of Ferdinand and Isabella. 

Such was Prescott's modest estimate of his work when it 
lay finished on his table, that he at first hesitated to give it 



WILLIAM n. PRE8G0TT. 



to the public. Bnt after yending its proofs to a few compe- 
tent critics whose judgment he liighly esteemed, he arranged 
for its publication. It needs scarcely be added that it met 
with high, even enthusiastic, approval, not only among his 
jiersonal friends in Boston, where, as Dr. Chamiing told him, 
it was " received with acclamation," but also throughout the 
country. Distinguished men in England also awarded it the 
highest praise. Bentley, after a brief delay, published it in 
Loiidon ; and on the continent of Europe the most compe- 
tent critics pronounced it worthy of high rank among the 
l)est historical productions of the times. Thus his long, 
arduous, un})aralleled labors were rewarded with a world-wide 
recognition of his great abilities as a historian. His work 
had made him a celebrity. The voice of his sudden fame 
afforded him pleasure, but, as he wrote to his friend Ticknor, 
" the delight of his good father " and the heartiness of his 
personal friends were even then the two things from which 
he "derived unfeigned satisfaction." 

A period of hesitation followed. " What shall be the 
subject of my next work?" was the question which held his 
eloquent pen in abeyance for some time. He w\as waiting 
to see if the fame of his published volumes was destined to 
be ephemeral or lasting. When satisfied that his work would 
live he resolved that the " Conquest of Mexico " should 
next engage his thoughts. Then, in 1838, he began to lay 
In'oad foundations for his proposed structure. But it was 
not until the spring of 1839 that he bent his best energies to 
his task. In that year he wrote, " I have begun to lay my 
bones to the work in good earnest." The first result of this 
application was that after a faithful and laborious examina- 
tion of an immense number of authorities, he was able to 
commence its composition in October, 1839. 

He had at this time more ability to use his eye than when 
working on Ferdinand and Isabella. This was, of course, a 
great advantage. Yet he had hinderances not heretofore 



WILLIAM H. FRESCO TT. 



encountered. His fame had brought him into correspond- 
ence with numerous important personages in the literary 
world, both at home and abroad ; and this, though pleasing 
in itself, involved a heavy tax on his time and strength. 
More serious still was a necessity laid upon him to prepare 
an abridgment of his former volumes, because of a threat 
from certain ungenerous publishers to have such a piratical 
work written. This threat was never fulfilled. Hence his 
own abridgment was not published, albeit the time ,spent 
upon it was a vexatious hinderance to the work in hand. 

Still this indefatigable invalid held himself steadfastly to 
his task. In August, 1843, it was completed. It had cost 
him five years of labor, which, though somewhat inconstant 
at first, was so incessant at last, that on throwing down his 
pen he wrote, " The last two years have been the most in- 
dustrious of my life, 1 think — especially the last year — and, 
as I have won the capital, entitle me to three months of 
literary loafing." 

The fame he had already won caused his "Conquest of 
Mexico" to be greeted with a chorus of applause such, 
says Mr. Ticknor, "as was never vouchsafed to any other 
work of equal gravity and importance that had been printed 
or reprinted among us." Its sale was remarkable, both at 
home and abroad. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic 
gave it unstinted praise, and this patient writer, under 
difficulties such as would have led most men similarly situated 
to live an idle life, found himself more famous than before. 
He was pleased, but not puffed up, with his great reputation, 
as appears from these words written to a friend: "It is some- 
what enervating and has rather an unwholesome effect to 
potter long over these personalities. The best course is ac- 
tion — things, not self — at all events not self-congratulation. 
So now I propose to dismiss all further thoughts of my 
literary success." 

He now indulged himself with a brief but hard-earned 



10 WILLIAJf H. PRE SCOTT. 

literary holiday, after which he began his preparation for 
his " Conquest of Peru," which he determined should be his 
next contribution to the literature of history. In August, 
1844, he was ready to begin its composition, but shrank as 
usual from entering upon it, saying, " 1 find it very difficult 
to screw up my wits to the historic pitch; so much for the 
vagabond life I have been leading; and breaking ground on 
a new subject is always a dreary business." After writing 
two chapters he said, " I never found it so hard to come to 
the starting-point. The first chapter was a perfectly pain- 
ful task, as painful as I ever performed at school." Never- 
theless, he resolutely pursued his self-appointed task, until 
in December, 1844, he was shocked by the almost instan- 
taneous death of his noble father. Two sad months of de- 
votion to duties growing out of this painful event inter- 
vened; and then, with an abiding though tranquil grief in 
his heart, he resumed his labors. Academic honors from the 
learned societies of France and Germany came to cheer him, 
but his pleasure in these recognitions of his ability was 
chastened by the fact that his father was no longer living to 
share his satisfaction. He could say with Montaigne, on the 
death of Boetie, " We had every thing in common, and now 
that he is gone I feel as if I had no right to his part." 
Viewing him bowed down beneath this great sorrow, one 
scarcely knows which to admire most, the brilliancy of his 
genius or the beauty and tenderness of his filial affection. 

Once again at his task of composition he worked fully 
up to the limit of his power when, in the spring of 1846, his 
speed was checked by a strain of the nerve in his eye. And 
then his work progressed, no longer at race-horse, but snail- 
like, speed. He was disheartened. " It takes the strength 
out of me," he said in a melancholy mood. Nevertheless^ 
he regained his courage, resting when unable to proceed, and 
when re-invigorated by brief repose returning to his burden- 
some, yet congenial, task. At last, in March, 1847, the goal 



WILLIAM H. PRE8C0TT. H 

was reached. Two years and nine months from the time he 
began its writing his " History of Peru " issued from the 
press of the Harpers to abide the verdict of the great re- 
public of hitters. 

Prescott had his misgivings as to the character of that 
verdict. What author, however assured his reputation, ever 
sent his book into the world without more or less anxiety as 
to its reception ? But Prescott's fears were soon relieved 
by the immense success of his volumes. As with his pre- 
vious works so with this. Reviewers in America and Eu- 
rope set their broad seal of unqualified approval upon it; 
the public bought it with avidity on both sides of the ocean; 
and our author had every possible reason for satisfaction. He 
had given the world a work of high merit and real value, 
and its worth had been universally recognized both by gen- 
eral readers and by the best and most critical minds of the age. 

In the Preface to his " History of Peru," Prescott, owing 
to the many incorrect statements concerning his eye which 
had been given to the public, inserted a brief account of the 
simple facts. He wishes his readers, he says, "to under- 
stand the real extent of my embarrassments in my historical 
pursuits. That they have not been very light will be readily 
admitted, when it is consideredthat I have had but a limited 
use of my eye in its best state, and that much of the time 
I have been debarred from the use of it altogether. Yet the 
difficulties I have had to contend with are very far inferior 
to those which fall to the lot of a blind man. I knoAV of no 
historian now alive avIio can claim the glory of having over- 
come such obstacles but the author of ' La Conquete de I'An- 
gleterre par les Normands,' who, to use his own touching and 
beautiful language, ' has made himself the friend of dark- 
ness;' and Avho, to a profound philosophy that requires no 
light but that from within, unites a capacity for extensive 
and varied research that might well demand the severest 
application of the student. 



12 WILLIAM H. PRE8C0TT. 

" The remarks into Avhich I have been led will, I trust, not 
be set down by the reader to an unworthy egotism, but to 
their true source, a desire to correct a misapprehension to 
which I may have unintentionally given rise myself, and 
which has gained me the credit with some — far from grate- 
ful to my feelings, since undeserved — of having surmounted 
the incalculable obstacles which lie in the path of the blind 
man." 

The reader of Prescott's memoir scarcely knows whether 
most to admire the mo.desty, the humility, the manliness, or 
the strict regard for exact truthfulness manifest in these 
gracefully written and touching paragraphs. In them the 
historian unconsciously illustrates that nice sense of honor 
which was such a marked feature in his fine character. 

The " Reign of Philip the Second " was his next great 
undertaking. His old reluctance to begin a new book held 
him like the spell of a magician in a state of hesitation for 
some time. New embarrassments also threw their shadows 
over his elastic spirit. His only available eye was growing 
worse, could only be used for reading an hour a day, and 
that at intervals, and there was no hope that it would ever 
improve, since the decay of the strained nerve was appar- 
ent. Moreover, his general health began to show the effects 
of the severe strain which his past labors had put upon it. 
Nevertheless, he finally resolved to make Philip his theme, 
began and completed his preparations on his usual exhaust- 
ive method, and entered resolutely upon the more congenial 
task of composition, when dyspepsia and other ailments set 
in with such force as to compel him to quit all literary 
work and to seek recuperation in traveling and in a tem- 
porary change of climate. Hence, in the spring of 1850, he 
sailed for England. 

His reception in England was more cordial than his native 
modesty could have suffered him to dream. The intellect 
of the fatherland — its best blood, its highest dignitaries, 



WILLIAM H. PRE8C0TT. 13 

from the Queen downward — honored him with courteous at- 
tentions, with cordial, and -in many cases affectionate, inter- 
course. His visit, including a trip to Paris, Brussels, and 
Antwerp, passed in " unbroken "enjoyment." "It was," says 
Mr. Ticknor, "the most brilliant visit ever made to England 
by an American citizen not clothed with the prestige of 
official station." Better still, however, were its effects on 
his health, which was sufficiently improved to permit him, 
after his return, to push his " Philip " so far toward comple- 
tion as to publish its first and second volumes in November, 
1855. He did this in spite of grief caused by the sudden 
-death of his greatly beloved mother in May, 1852, and of 
increasingly severe attacks of rheumatism. The composition 
of these two volumes cost him the labor of five years, de- 
ducting the six months spent in England. Like his preced- 
ing works, it met with immediate and gratifying success. 
With undiminished courage, which new and increasing in- 
firmities could not daunt, he continued his as yet unfinished 
task, until, in April, 1858, he sent the third volume to press. 
Preparations for a fourth volume next occupied his thoughts. 
On the 28th of January, 1859, he talked to his friends of 
his fixed purpose to proceed with it vigorously. And then, 
after conversing with his secretary respecting the name of 
an official personage which neither of them could recall, he 
went to his wife and sister, who were in another room, to 
see if they could recollect it. To his surprise his wife, who 
was not usually much interested in public affairs, gave him 
the desired name. Laughing with his characteristic merry 
laugh, he snapped his fingers at her and said, " How came 
yo?< to remember?" and left the room. 

He had about a year before been seized with a mild stroke 
of apoplexy. When he parted so cheerfully with his wife 
on this fatal morning, none could perceive any sign that 
this old enemy was at his side. But it was even so; and a 
few minutes later, his secretary, hearing him groan, rushed 



14 WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 

into his apartment and found him unconscious. Apoplexy 
had again touched his brain, and this time with fatal effect. 
After three hours of unconsciousness the great historian 
passed into the silent land. 

Mr. Prescott's histories are models of style. When 
Hallam, himself no mean historian, wrote to him, " Your 
style appears to me to be nearly perfect," he only gave fit 
expression to the general opinion of competent critics. 
" The style is the man," says a commonly accepted adage, 
and it is in no case more remarkably illustrated than in 
Prescott. The peculiar circumstances under which he wrote 
compelled a degree of painstaking, both as to facts and ex- 
pression, which insured strength, clearness, and correctness. 
The uncertainty inseparable from gaining knowledge chiefly 
by hearing moved liim to almost unpai'alleled efforts to avoid 
mistakes. And those efforts, by requiring the utmost con- 
centration of which his mind was capable, made the events 
he recorded palpable as living realities. He saw them like 
visions in all their relations before he wrote of them. Hence 
the transparency, the force, the life of his descriptions of 
great historic scenes. Hence also came the extraordinary 
fascination of his histories. His peculiar mental processes, 
which led him to digest his materials and to compose his 
sentences in his memory before attempting to commit them 
to writing, brought his whole nature into such close and 
prolonged contact with the characters and events of which 
he wrote, that all his powers and feelings were aroused. 
His moral as well as his mental judgment found expression 
through his pen. Therefore it was, as Mr. Ticknor lias well 
remarked, that " he put not a little of his personal character " 
into his work. And that character, being remarkable for 
its elevated tone, pure moral feeling, noble aspirations, gen- 
erous impulses, overflowing geniality, tender sympathies, 
and strong affectionateness, begot in his readers a degree of 
that attachment which was almost uniformly begotten in 



WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 15 

those who were favored with his personal acqiiaintance. To 
know Mr. Preseott personally was to he attracted to him. 
In like manner, though, of course, in a lesser degree, to be 
familiar with his writings is to feel a di'awing toward the 
author such as one is rarely conscious of when perusing any 
other historian. 

For his rare character Preseott was largely indebted to 
the influences of the exceptionally happy home of his early 
days and to nature. The latter gave him a soul which was 
a perennial fountain of moral sensitiveness, kindness, and 
cheerfulness. His affliction chastened, but did not darken, 
his sunniness. Among other things it led him to take more 
sober views of life, and to investigate the claims of the 
Christian religion with unusual care. The result of these 
latter inquiries was a conviction of its divine character and 
of his obligation to respect its claims. But, owing to his 
idiosyncrasies, and to other causes not now apparent, he 
could not, or at least did not, interpret it as evangelical 
Christians do. He believed it as he understood it ; rever- 
enced and, as one may hope, trusted in its adorable Author, 
and cherished a hope of happy immortality through the 
abounding goodness of the great All-Father. As we view 
revealed truth, his religious character would have gained im- 
mensely, and his spiritual enjoyments have been vastly richer 
and more consoling, had his faith been clearer with respect 
to the divine nature of man's Redeemer. 



16 WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 



THE STUDY OF HISTORY. 

" I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient 
times." — Psalm Ixxvii, 5. 

" I have read some where or other, in Dionysius of Halicar- 
nassus, I think, that history is philosophy teaching by ex- 
amples." — BOLINGBROKE. 

" History, which is indeed little more than the register of 
the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind." — Gibbon. 

" In the elder days of art, 

Builders wrought with greatest care 

Each minute and unseen part ; 

For the gods see every-where." — Longfellow. 

" Seest thou a man diligent in his business ? he shall stand 
before kings; he shall not stand before mean men." — Prov. 
xxii, 29. 

" My eyes make pictures, when they are shut." — Coleeidqe. 

" Defer not till to-morrow to be wise, 

To-morrow's sun to thee may never rise." — Congrete. 

" If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is 
small." — Peov. xxiv, 10, 

"Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, 
subtile ; natural philosophy, deep ; moral sciences, grave ; 
logic and rhetoric, able to contend." — Bacon. 

" Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the 
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his 
divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto 
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath 
called us to glory and virtue." — 1 Peter i, 2, 3. 



■^T^XJL^JLjXJ^IsA. EC. IF'IFI.ESOOTT. 
[thougiit-outlink to help the memory ] 

1. Bora? Father? Mother? " Sehool-niother?" Furtlier education ? His 

standiiiar iit Mr. -Knapp's school i Defects ? Conscience i Literai-y delitrhts ? 

2. Temptiitio'ns at college? Aceideut? Treatment of th o oflender? Graduated? 

Law ? New and sore atHiction ? " 

3. Clianu^e of climate? Lite at St. Michael's? London? France? Italy? Bos- 

ton? Marriaije? Choice of profession ? 

4. Preparation for' writing? First subject? Further preparation? Composi- 

tion? Impression ot book on the public? Next book? Etfect ? Third 
book ? Affliction in lb44 ? Foreign recognition ? Trouble in 1840 ? The 
" goal" in 1847? 

5. Next great work ? Abroad? Reception in England? Affliction in 1852? 

Fourth vol imie of last work ? Death ? 

6. Hallaiu's tribute? Religious views and character? 



TE3 I^SIT-IB O OI^S. 



No, 1. Biblical Exploratinn. A Con- 

di'iistit Manual "u How to Sindv ilie 

Bii.lc. By J. 11. Vinceiil, D.D. FmU 

aiifl licli 10 

Nil. -J. Stiiilics of the Stars. A Pocket 

Gniil'- o tlio ticiciioe of Astronomy. 

By II. \V. Warroii, D.D ... 10 

No. :l. liil.le Sludies for Little People. 

l!v Ui'V. B. T. Vincent 10 

No. 4 Kn-lisli History. Bv .1. H. Viii- 

ceia, D.D lU 

No. .-). Gropk Histoiy. By J. H. Vin- 

cc.:i, 1».D.... ■. 10 

N". i!. (TiniU Literature. Bv A. D. 

Vail. T) l> '. 20 

No. 7. Mcmori;!! Days of the Cliautau- 

qii;i Literary and Scientific Circle 10 

N... .S. What Noted Men Think of the 

RiUlc. liy L. T. I'ownsend, D.D 10 

N'.. fl William Cullcn Biyant 10 

No. 10. What is Kducation? By Wm. 

K. Pheli-^. A.M 10 

No. 11. Sociaies. By Prof. W. F. Pholps, 

A.M 10 

No. 12. Pratalozzi. Bv Prof. W. F. 

Plu'lps A.M 10 

N". 1!. Anglo-Saxon. By Prof. Alhert 

S. r..ok 20 

No. 14. Horace M:inn. By Prnf. Wm. 

F. Phelps. A.M 10 

N>. IV Prifhe.. Bv Prof. Wm. F. 

Phi'lps A.M " 10 

No. 1(5. Roman History. Bv J. H. Vii;- 

cioit, D.D .■ ■ 10 

No. 17. Roger \«civini and -Tohn Sturm. 

(ilimpses of Education in the Six- 

teeiuh Cenfnrv. Bv Prof. Wm. F. 

Phr^lps. A.M ." 10 

No. 18. Chrisiinn Evidences. Bv -I. H. 

Vincent, D.D 10 



10 



10 



No. 19. The Book of Books. By J. M 

Freeman, D.D 

No. 20. The Chautautpia HandBook 

By J. H. Vincent, D.D 

No. 21. Amiricaii History. By J. L. 

HiP'lhiii. A.M 10 

N". 2-'. liihlcal Bioloav. By Rev. J. 

H. Wvtlio, A.M., M.D" 10 

No, 2".. English Literature. By Pi of. 

.1. H. Giliiiore 20 

No. 2t. Canadian History, By .lames 

L. Hughes....^ 10 

No. 2;". ScK-Ediicalion, By Jo.st-pli Al- 

den, D.n„ LL.D 

fCo. 2G. The Taliernacle. By Rev. .John 

C. Hill . 

No, 27. lieodiiigsfi'.m AncientClassics. 
No. 28. Matineis and Customs of Bih'e 

Times. By .1. M. Freeman, D.D 

No. 29. Man's .\iitic|nity and Language. 

By M. S, Terry, D.D 

No 30. The World of Missions. Hv 

Heiirv K. Carroll ". 10 

No. .■U." What Noted Men Tliink of 

Christ, Bv L, T. Townsend, D.D 10 

No. '.2. A Brief Outline of the Histoy 

of Art, Bv Miss .Julia B, De Forest.. 10 
No. .■^:l. Eliliii Biirritt: "The Liarin-d 

Blacksmith." By Cliarleo Northetid. 
No. ".4. Asiatic History : China, Corca, 

.Japan. By Rev. Wm. Elliot Grittis.. 
No. :!."). Outlines of General Histoiy, 

l!v J, H, Vincent, D.D 

No. .".R. Assemblv Bible Outlines, By 

.1, H, Vincent, D.D 

No. ^^'. ,\ssemb V Normal Outlines. By 

•J, H. Vinrent. D.D 

No. .'^8. The Life of Christ. Bv Rev. 

.T. L. Hiirlbut, M.A 

No. ^9. 'I'he Siinila\ -School Noiiiial 

Cl.ass, By .J. H. Vincent, D.D 10 



10 



10 



10 



10 



10 



Published by PHILLIPS & HUNT, 805 Broadway, Nev/ York. 



